Helmut Meijer

Story

Solo project of Award-winning SA Composer/Producer Helmut Meijer.

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

Languages

What is music to you? What does it give you?

I grew up in a very musical home: both my parents being performing artists and music teachers, and my sister equally talented.. In fact, most of my stylistic appreciation I garnered from her vast musical palate! I do not want to overstate the obvious, but as full-time record producer, composer and artist.. i pretty much breathe music. And as music in its simplest form equals vibrations, I can honestly state that music to me is spiritual..

What is your music dream?

Lead and inspire are the two words that come up..

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

By being totally authentic and by being relentless in my rage against the ego.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

The may give away my age, but a song called "Secret Land" by Sandra

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Sting, Peter Gabriel, Øystein Sevåg, Coldplay, Mute Math, Aquilo, Enigma

What inspires you to make music?

Honestly, my odyssey to know God.. and secondly my insatiable thirst for traveling, mountains and the desire to be an inspiration in my generation.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

I am drawn to mystery, and consequently towards the ability to write songs that could mean different things to different people. But ultimately, if my music inspires people towards a deeper appreciation for life, love and a meaningful search for God, I would be well-pleased.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I both crave the milieu of live performance, and very often dread the imperfection of the experience itself.. but it's a beautiful drug!

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

The reality is an ever expanding bottom of the pyramid, where a lot of talented men and women get lost in the ocean of options, and where fewer and fewer super stars keep rising higher to dominate the music arena, at the expense of the bottom of pyramid..

What do you think of Drooble?

So far so good ;-)

What frustrates you most as a musician?

Real life. In a dream reality, I would only want to sing my songs and make amazing music.. but reality is, life happens, bills accumulate, and the stage is not what it seems from far away..

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Yes and no. Yes: I am a record producer who helps to shape my local music scene to an extent.. No: I have made a conscious decision to be inspired by those who have gone further than us.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Talent. Loads of discipline. And resilience.. Also, musicians and especially singers/vocalists should have something meaningful to say. I believe to embrace and experience life and to be a little bit older, is helpful in the regard.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Oddo Bam, Lize Mynhardt, Mixtape